Kalanchoe plant named ‘Dokalclas’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Kalanchoe  plant named ‘Dokalclas’, characterized by its relatively compact, upright and uniformly mounded plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit and moderate growth rate; freely branching plant habit; dark green-colored leaves; uniform, early and freely flowering habit; single-type reddish orange-colored flowers; and excellent postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Kalanchoe blossfeldiana.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DOKALCLAS’.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY INVENTOR & APPLICANT/ASSIGNEE

An European Community Plant Breeder's Rights application for the instantplant was filed by the Applicant/Assignee, Dümmen Group B.V. of De Lier,The Netherlands on Nov. 9, 2020, application number 2020/2815. Foreignpriority is not claimed to this application.

The Inventor and Applicant/Assignee assert that no publications noradvertisements relating to sales, offers for sale or public distributionoccurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of thisapplication. Any information about the claimed plant would have beenobtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from the Inventor and/orApplicant/Assignee. Inventor and Applicant/Assignee claim a prior artexception under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosure and/or sales prior tothe filing date but less than one year prior to the effective filingdate.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct Kalanchoe plant,botanically known as Kalanchoe blossfeldiana and hereinafter referred toby the name ‘Dokalclas’.

The new Kalanchoe is a product of a planned breeding program conductedby the Inventor in De Lier, The Netherlands. The objective of thebreeding program is to create new freely-branching and freely-floweringKalanchoe plants with attractive leaf and flower coloration.

The new Kalanchoe plant originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in De Lier, The Netherlands in August, 2013 of Kalanchoeblossfeldiana ‘Merba’, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent witha proprietary selection of Kalanchoe blossfeldiana identified as codenumber FK 116270-01, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. Thenew Kalanchoe plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as asingle flowering plant from within the progeny of the statedcross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in De Lier, TheNetherlands in March, 2014.

Asexual reproduction of the new Kalanchoe plant by vegetative terminalcuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in De Lier, TheNetherlands since October, 2014 has shown that the unique features ofthis new Kalanchoe plant are stable and reproduced true to type insuccessive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Kalanchoe have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature, daylength and light intensity without, however, anyvariance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Dokalclas’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Dokalclas’ as a new and distinct Kalanchoeplant:

-   -   1. Relatively compact, upright and uniformly mounded plant        habit.    -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit and moderate growth rate.    -   3. Freely branching plant habit.    -   4. Dark green-colored leaves.    -   5. Uniform, early and freely flowering habit.    -   6. Single-type reddish orange-colored flowers.    -   7. Excellent postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Kalanchoe can be compared to plants of the femaleparent, ‘Merba’. Plants of the new Kalanchoe differ from plants of‘Merba’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Kalanchoe flower earlier than plants of the        ‘Merba’.    -   2. Plants of the new Kalanchoe have larger flowers than plants        of the ‘Merba’.    -   3. Flowers of plants of the new Kalanchoe are darker red than        flowers of plants of ‘Merba’.    -   4. Plants of the new Kalanchoe have a longer postproduction        longevity than plants of the ‘Merba’.

Plants of the new Kalanchoe can be compared to plants of the male parentselection. Plants of the new Kalanchoe differ from plants of the maleparent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Kalanchoe are larger than plants of the        male parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Kalanchoe are more freely branching than        plants of the male parent selection.    -   3. Leaves of plants of the new Kalanchoe are larger than leaves        of plants of the male parent selection.    -   4. Flowers of plants of the new Kalanchoe are lighter red in        color than flowers of plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Kalanchoe can be compared to plants of the Kalanchoeblossfeldiana ‘Cima’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plantsof the new Kalanchoe differ primarily from plants of ‘Cima’ in thefollowing characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Kalanchoe are larger than and not as        compact as plants of ‘Cima’.    -   2. Plants of the new Kalanchoe are more freely branching than        plants of ‘Cima’.    -   3. Leaves of plants of the new Kalanchoe are larger than leaves        of plants of ‘Cima’.    -   4. Flowers of plants of the new Kalanchoe are lighter and        brighter red in color than flowers of plants of ‘Cima’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Kalanchoe plant showing the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color valuescited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describethe colors of the new Kalanchoe plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1) is a side perspective view ofa typical flowering plant of ‘Dokalclas’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2) is a close-up view of atypical open flower and developing flower buds of ‘Dokalclas’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown during the spring and summer in 10-cmcontainers in a glass-covered greenhouse in De Lier, The Netherlands andunder cultural practices typical of commercial Kalanchoe production.During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 20° C.to 25° C., night temperatures ranged from 20° C. to 21° C. and lightlevels ranged from 10,000 lux to 55,000 lux. Plants received longday/short night conditions (more than 14 hours of light) for four weeksthen plants received photoinductive short day/long night conditions(minimum 14 hours darkness) until flowering. Plants were 12 weeks oldwhen the photographs were taken and 13 weeks old when the descriptionwas taken. In the detailed description, color references are made to TheRoyal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except wheregeneral terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Kalanchoe blossfeldiana ‘Dokalclas’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Kalanchoe blossfeldiana ‘Merba’,            not patented.        -   Male or pollen parent.—Proprietary selection of Kalanchoe            blossfeldiana identified as code number FK 116270-01, not            patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About twelve days at            temperatures about 21° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About two weeks at            temperatures about 21° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three            weeks at temperatures about 21° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four            weeks at temperatures about 21° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically greyish white to            reddish brown in color, actual color of the roots is            dependent on substrate composition, water quality,            fertilizer type and formulation, substrate temperature and            physiological age of roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; medium density            to sparse.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Relatively compact, upright and            uniformly mounded plant habit; freely flowering habit with            numerous cymes positioned above the foliar plane; triangular            in shape with rounded crown; appropriate for 10-cm to            15.25-cm containers; moderately vigorous growth habit and            moderate growth rate.        -   Plant height at flowering.—About 17 cm.        -   Plant diameter at flowering.—About 16 cm.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branching habit with about six to            eight lateral branches developing per plant; pinching            (removal of the terminal apex) is not required but will            enhance lateral branch development.-   Lateral branch description:    -   -   Length.—About 9 cm to 14 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 2 mm to 5 mm.        -   Internode length.—About 2 cm to 3 cm.        -   Aspect.—Mostly upright.        -   Strength.—Moderately strong.        -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Color, developing and developed.—Close to 147A.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple; generally symmetrical.        -   Quantity of leaves per lateral branch.—At flowering, about 8            to 13 mature leaves and 12 to 18 generative leaves.        -   Length.—About 9.5 cm.        -   Width.—About 7 cm.        -   Shape.—Ovate to elliptic.        -   Apex.—Obtuse.        -   Base.—Obtuse.        -   Margin.—Broadly crenate.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous;            coriaceous; succulent.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Color.—Developing and fully developed leaves, upper surface:            Close to 137A; venation, close to 137A to 137B. Developing            and fully developed leaves, lower surface: Close to 137B;            venation, close to 137B.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 1.2 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm to            7 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Texture, upper and lower            surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; coriaceous; succulent. Color,            upper surface: Close to 137A. Color, lower surface: Close to            137B.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Single-type flowers arranged            in axillary cymes; uniform and freely flowering habit with            usually more than 25 open flowers and more than 25 flower            buds per lateral branch and more than 150 open flowers and            flower buds developing per plant; plants flower continuously            for at least seven weeks; flowers face mostly upright to            outwardly depending on the position in the inflorescence.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants of the new Kalanchoe            initiate and develop flowers under short day/long night            conditions or during November and December in the Northern            Hemisphere; flower initiation and development can also be            induced under artificial short day/long conditions (at least            14 hours of darkness).        -   Time to flower.—Early flowering habit, under short day/long            night photoinductive conditions, plants begin flowering            about eight to ten weeks; actual time to flower is primarily            dependent upon temperature and light intensity.        -   Post-production longevity.—Excellent post-production            longevity; plants maintain good foliage and flower substance            for about 51 days under interior conditions; individual            flowers last about 20 days on the plant; flowers persistent.        -   Flower diameter.—About 1.7 cm.        -   Flower length (height).—About 1.4 cm.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.            Shape: Oblong, becoming tubular to ovoid with development.            Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Proximally, close to 138C            and distally, close to 41D.        -   Petals.—Arrangement: Four in a single whorl. Length: About            8.5 mm. Width: About 5.5 mm. Aspect: Horizontal to slightly            upright. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Mucronate to apiculate. Base:            Obtuse. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper and lower            surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Color: When opening and            fully opened, upper surface: Close to 42A; venation, close            to 42A; color does not change with development. Fully            opened, lower surface: Close to 43C to 43D; venation, close            to 43C to 43D; color does not change with development.        -   Sepals.—Appearance: Four in a single whorl. Length: About            5 mm. Width: About 1.5 mm. Shape: Oblong, pointed. Apex:            Acute. Base: Obtuse. Margin: Entire. Aspect: Upright, rigid.            Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth;            glabrous; glossy. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to            145C.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 3 mm to 8 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm.            Aspect: Erect, rigid. Strength: Strong. Texture: Smooth,            glabrous. Color: Close to 138C.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen number: About eight            per flower. Filament color: Close to 150D. Anther length:            About 0.3 mm. Anther shape: Elliptic, flat. Anther color:            Close to 150D. Amount of pollen: Scarce. Pollen color: Close            to 12A. Gynoecium: Pistil number: About four. Pistil length:            About 1 cm. Style length: About 7 mm. Style color: Close to            138D. Stigma shape: Flat. Stigma color: Close to 8D,            crystalline. Ovary color: Close to 138D.        -   Seeds.—Quantity per flower: If developed, up to 500 seeds            per plant. Length: About 0.1 mm. Diameter: About 0.05 mm.            Texture: Rough. Color: Close to 166C.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Kalanchoe have been    observed to tolerate temperatures from about 12° C. to about 35° C.-   Pathogen & pest tolerance: Plants of the new Kalanchoe have been    observed to have high tolerance to Powdery Mildew (Erysiphe    cichoraceaum). To date, plants of the new Kalanchoe have not been    observed to be tolerant to pests and other pathogens common to    Kalanchoe plants.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Kalanchoe plant named ‘Dokalclas’as illustrated and described.